The first change will be the re-design to change how it looks and then it and Google+ will be brought "closer together".

What this will mean, said Mr Green, is that Reader's own-brand social features, which allow users to share items they find interesting, will disappear. Instead, anyone wanting to friend, follow or share items will have to do so via the corresponding Google+ tools.

Mr Green acknowledged that these changes might mean some people decide Reader "is no longer for you". To help those that want to switch Google said it would beef up the export tools so it gets easier to take their feeds with them.

"Your data belongs to you, after all, and we want to make sure you can take it with you," said Mr Green.

To help people switch ExtremeTech published a short list of six potential replacements for Reader that included NetVibes, Feedly and FeedDemon.

The changes to Reader are one of many tweaks Google has made to its services. These started with slight tweaks to the logos on the main search page and will continue with a revamp of GMail that will overhaul its look and feel.